It's about time I get some thank you cards mailed out. Julen IS closing in on six months and I've been dragging my feet getting those written. But of course I couldn't possibly just make life easy on myself and BUY some cards....noooo, I had to start from scratch and decided to revisit an old craft I hadn't tried in a while, so carved a rubber stamp to make the cards. As is typical of my four-year-old, he wants to join in on all the crafting that goes on in this house, so was eager to give it a try. However, I would be crazy to let him get his hands on tools like these. So we went for a more child friendly version of making a stamp and Peanut made his own thank you cards for his birthday gifts. Here's what we did:
Materials needed:
~Styrofoam trays (like the kind fish and chicken are packaged in at the grocery store or those that restaurants use for take out orders)
~scissors
~chop-stick or pen ~paintbrush
~stamp pads and/or paint
~paper (not pictured) and I think a brayer roller would have been helpful, but I couldn't find mine
First cut off all the rounded edges of the styrofoam, so the"stamp" will lay flat. Then cut into several, child manageable pieces. (I found that about 3 x 4 inch pieces worked very well).
Next, using a chop-stick or pen have the child create their image directly on to the styrofoam pad making sure to press hard so there is a nice indentation. Peanut started out making a polka-dot design.
Once your design is finished, completely cover the styrofoam pad with paint or ink. We used Peanuts' preferred method of painting with a paint brush (although this is where a brayer roller would be much easier).
(This boy could paint for hours.)
Next, press stamp down evenly on your paper...
...and very carefully lift it up to see your image.
Here are all the stamps we made.
Peanut chose the flower design for his cards...
...which once they were cut out, we attached to the front of card stock using photo corners.
They make cute gift box tops as well.
Have fun!
This looks like a good one. thanks!
Posted by: Karen | July 18, 2008 at 02:28 PM
SO BRILLIANT! I must try and remember this for Story Hour starting in September!
Posted by: sarah | July 18, 2008 at 02:58 PM
How fun. I should do this with my guys. I really like how your 'thank you' cards turned out. We need to make some too (ugh).
Did you stamp/make peanut's t-shirt? It's really cute! I love how intently he is working on his stamp. too cute!
Posted by: Regina | July 18, 2008 at 03:22 PM
I taught a printing class for little ones (5 - 7 years old) a long time ago now. I did this kind of printing and some others, but in the end, the "hands down" favorite, was finger prints and hand prints. They could have spend every afternoon doing just that!
Posted by: mimi k | July 18, 2008 at 04:46 PM
these are so great. i love seeing that concentration on peanut's face. so cute!
Posted by: jen b | July 18, 2008 at 05:05 PM
What a fun and easy idea! And no sharp tools!
Posted by: Rachel | July 18, 2008 at 06:16 PM
What a perfect idea! I can't wait to try it with my daughter. We are just re-designing her room and this will be so great in place of stenciling. Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: heather jane | July 18, 2008 at 10:40 PM
yes. this would be a good craft for me. do you really want to know how many times i've gouged my thumb with a cutter while carving linoleum blocks? best for me to stick with non-pointy/sharp objects. thanks for saving my thumb, k! :]
Posted by: jen | July 19, 2008 at 12:15 AM
This is a VERY cute idea, not just for kids. :-D I'm going to add this tutorial to my sidebar if you don't mind! Thanks for sharing it.
Posted by: eileen | July 19, 2008 at 05:54 AM
What a fun tutorial and a great idea!!! Peanut, you are one handsome little guy!!! Love the artwork!!
Posted by: Julie | July 19, 2008 at 09:33 AM
Es un trabajo precioso Kristin, que cara de interés tiene Peanut!!! Lo probaré... Gracias por el tutorial!!!!!
Besos
Posted by: RID | July 19, 2008 at 06:27 PM
Funny you should post about this very subject... I just returned from a meeting with my book binding guild + there were a couple new attendees who had gone through the same art ed + letterpress programs at the local university. We were talking about various printing methods we learned about in our classes. What most people don't realize is that a meat tray + the palm of your hand are the best printing tools around!
Posted by: shona~ LALA dex press | July 19, 2008 at 06:30 PM
This is brilliant! I love the look of cocentration on his face! This is a craft that will sooooooo be done at your house. Resisting the urge for more exclamation marks.
Posted by: Sonya | July 19, 2008 at 07:22 PM
I love this idea - it is fabulous ... now I'm off to find some Styrofoam trays!
Posted by: Rachael Rabbit | July 20, 2008 at 12:56 PM
What a wonderful idea. I love it. I have been trying to think of ways for the kids to make their own stamps but they are still too young for any very sharp tools. This is going to be so neat to try out with them. Thank you!
Posted by: josie | July 20, 2008 at 03:36 PM
Thank you very much. It is my turn to host an art playgroup next month and I now know what we will be doing.
Posted by: Anna Y | July 20, 2008 at 07:22 PM
Very nice. And I love how intent your son looks as he paints his piece. Neat idea.
Posted by: Ellen | July 21, 2008 at 08:24 AM
Great idea! I love Peanut's t-shirt!
Posted by: Mirre | July 21, 2008 at 04:13 PM
Well, I think this is a wonderful idea and cannot wait to do this with my son. He's only two so it might be a bit tricky but I will keep this in mind when he matures a bit!
Posted by: Jaime | July 21, 2008 at 08:54 PM
We have done this before. The foam trays work brilliantly! And did you print the great bug shirt he is wearing?
Posted by: jackie | July 22, 2008 at 09:40 AM
Very fun! I love his look of concentration. And now I know what we're going to do with the next Styrofoam trays we get.
Posted by: Anna | July 22, 2008 at 10:33 PM
what a great idea! I'll have to try this. you should submit this to the crafty crow blog! It's right up their alley.
Posted by: Katie | July 22, 2008 at 11:04 PM
what a great idea!!!! :)
Posted by: kristin | July 26, 2008 at 10:39 PM
These turned out great! My husband does something similar with his highschool art students! But so kid friendly- nice work!
Posted by: taimarie | July 28, 2008 at 04:02 PM
Great! I'm definitely going to do this with the girls. Thanks!
Posted by: Alexis | July 29, 2008 at 10:25 AM
What a fabulous idea!! We're definitely going to do this :)
Posted by: Nature Mama | September 04, 2008 at 01:34 AM
What a great idea! Now if I can only find some styrofoam, hmmm...
Posted by: Barbara | September 04, 2008 at 07:11 AM
Great idea!
Posted by: simone | September 04, 2008 at 07:35 AM
great craft!
Posted by: Jen R Sanctuary arts at home | September 04, 2008 at 08:02 AM
Very cute idea. So is the boy!
Posted by: Baba | September 04, 2008 at 11:45 AM
These are great! This is definitely something I think my two kiddos could do, and they would have a blast with it!
Thank you for sharing your creative idea!
Posted by: Teresa | September 04, 2008 at 12:07 PM
Ooh, what a great idea! My son would LOVE to do this and I know someone who has an excess of those styrofoam trays . . . Thanks for the idea!
Posted by: Expat Mom | September 06, 2008 at 08:36 PM
What a great idea!! Great prints too!
Posted by: Meg | September 10, 2008 at 09:15 PM
We tried this craft! :D My kids are still a tad young, but they had fun anyway. Thanks.
http://www.expatmom.info/what-we-do-on-sick-days/
Posted by: Expat Mom | September 30, 2008 at 11:35 PM
Love this version of "carving" stamps! I am hosting an online kid's craft along and would like to feature this project. Would it be ok if I use the photo of the stamps you made (with proper recognition of course) in my post?
Posted by: Heather | April 28, 2009 at 02:17 PM